President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the multi-billion Gas City Project at Ogidigben, Warri South-West Local Government of Delta State, with a declaration that Nigeria’s march to industrialisation has just commenced.
The President noted that job creation was of paramount interest in his administration’s conception of the three-point agenda on gas production in the country.
The Federal Government project is expected to be a watershed of industrial and economic transformation of Nigeria, Jonathan noted, saying the project would create over 150,000 jobs at the construction stage, while about five million jobs from direct and indirect businesses are expected to be created by the time the gas city project is fully completed.
The President warned the youths and people to avoid any forms of trouble in future, saying crises was inimical to progress and development.
The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, said he was exceedingly excited by the final performance of the groundbreaking for what would in a few years put Nigeria firmly on the global map as the biggest gas project.
Uduaghan pledged on behalf of the host communities of the Ogidigben gas project and the Gbaramatu Deep Sea Port and the entire people of Delta State to ensure that an atmosphere of peace prevails in the area at all times.
He said: “The communities remain the primary beneficiaries of the project.”
Uduaghan apologised on behalf of host communities over the communal rift involving the host communities that caused the delay in the performance of the groundbreaking, thanking the President for his patience.
He attributed the patience to Jonathan’s roots in the Niger-Delta.
He urged the people to express their appreciation to President Jonathan by being peaceful and jealously protecting the facilities so that the country’s march into the industrial era, stabilisation in energy supply and exportation of fertilizer and poly products would become a reality.
The Minister for Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, noted that the Jonathan government has persistently and resolutely pursued a three-point agenda of gas-to-liquid, gas-based industrialisation and gas for export.
Alison-Madueke said this has launched Nigeria firmly into the league of gas producing nations.
She said that the result of the present administration’s commitment to the revolution of the gas was what has started to yield products.
Also speaking, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, said the launch of the Gas City Project would make Nigeria bigger than Trinadad and Tobago and even Singapore in the area of gas production, fertilizer and other associated products.
Aganga disclosed that the country has plans to establish at least five other industrial parks in the country in a couple of years.
“Nigeria is taking her rightful place in the quest for industrialisation with this project,” Aganga said.
The ceremony, which is coming after at least two postponements, was held amid heavy security.
Previous plans for the presidential visit to Ogidigben for the groundbreaking had been canceled following disagreements between the Ijaw and Itsekiri over host community status and rights.
The differences, which led to fierce exchanges and counter-claims between the two ethnic groups, raised security concerns that necessitated at least two postponements.
The ceremony was attended by eminent personalities, including Senator James Manager; the National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh; the Minister of Niger-Delta, Dr. Stephen Oru; Kingsley Otuaro, who is the running mate to the PDP governorship candidate for Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa; the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Baba Usman; the Commanding Officer of Nigeria Navy Ship Delta, Captain Musa Gemu; as well as traditional rulers, including the Olu of Warri and Chairman of the Delta State Traditional Council, Ogiame Atuwase II; and the regent of Gbramatu Kingdom.